World

Straaden (wood folk)

Straad or Striders are four armed forest dwellers. They are
the ancient race, being they were created as the first moral
race about 1800 years before the other races. They have a
thick bark-like skin colored light brown to gray and are about
as tall as an elf. They reproduce slowly (which is an unknown
process) and will eat meat, but are mostly vegetarian.

Straad are shy, and live in small clusters, forming a loosely
connected network that can web for thousands of square miles.
These clusters are well hidden and its almost impossible to
find them even if you know where it is. The clusters can
communicate to each other using magic communication
devices or by speaking with animals. They disdain fighting
for territory or for honor, but are quick to defend their homes
with powerful magic, poisons, and acids. Straaden trained in
melee are entrancing when watched. They move with grace
and great precision over their body. They can deliver blows
quickly and strongly. Some say the early monk cults learned
many fighting techniques from Straaden, as they move in
similar fashion. Younger Straad will often hunt great beasts
as a trail of their fighting abilities, but usually only fight
unarmed.

They may venture out to establish relations, trade for rare
items or exchange information. But do so seldom, and when
so only the most revered and skilled will leave and they only
specifically seek what they left to find. Straaden goods are
beautiful but simple. They are somewhat random in when and
how they create objects and where they put their time. They
seem to wear lavish and ornately decorated tabards and cloaks
for no visible reason or suggestion of authority. Some have
theorized that they have a hive-mind like government system,
where all are connected and can voice opinion. Their homes
are simple and made mostly of living plants. Straad are master
users of Nature and Healing Magic. On some rare occurrences
men have been healed or raised when fighting honorably if
they fall near enough to Straad territory.